Governor's Fellows

Three LSU Ogden Honors Students Selected for Inaugural Governor’s Fellows Program

From left: William Boles, Zoe Williamson and Alexander Rader

Three LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College students have been selected to participate in the inaugural Governor’s Fellows Program in Louisiana Government. Alexander Rader, William Boles and Zoe Williamson are among the 10 students chosen for the program, which was recently announced by Governor John Bel Edwards.

According to the Governor’s website, the program is “an opportunity for the students to gain first-hand knowledge about the development and implementation of public policy as well as the state’s rich history and current affairs of Louisiana government.” The program is made possible through a partnership with Louisiana’s Office of the Governor, Louisiana State University, Southern University and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

To be eligible for participation in the program, students must be a native of Louisiana or attend a Louisiana university or college. Students chosen for the program will be assigned to work in a cabinet-level agency in Baton Rouge based on their interests and areas of study. Additionally, they will attend a weekly speaker series and field trips to enrich their experience and understanding of Louisiana government. Finally, the students will receive three hours of course credit offered through LSU’s Public Administration Institute, as well as up to a $1,500 stipend.

Alexander Rader is a senior majoring in Biological Sciences and Psychology at LSU’s College of Science and LSU’S College of Humanities & Social Sciences. Rader is from Dallas, Tx. He is a member of the Louisiana Service and Leadership (LASAL) Scholars Program, which prepares Ogden Honors College students for leadership roles in Louisiana, particularly in the fields of public service, social justice and environmental sustainability. Rader recently received his Emergency Medical Technician license and volunteers at Open Health Care Clinic and Hospice of Baton Rouge. He is interested in mental and physical health policy and will be working with Colonel Kevin Reeves of the Louisiana State Police.

William Boles is a senior in Microbiology and Biological Sciences at LSU’s College of Science with a minor in Psychology. He is a native of Monroe, La. Boles currently researches the use of Herpes Simplex Type I as a vaccine vector in Dr. Gus Kousoulas’ lab. He is also the student director of LASAL Project 225, an initiative that focuses on closing the racial and socioeconomic gaps in the Baton Rouge community. He is interested in infectious disease and sexual health research and policy. Boles will be working with Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Rebekah Gee.

Zoe Williamson is a junior majoring in Political Communication at LSU’s Manship School with a minor in Political Science. Williamson is from St. Francisville, La. She is the incoming president of Geaux Vote LSU, a Campus Ambassador for the Andrew Goodman Foundation and a previous Director of Communications for LSU Student Government. Williamson is interested in voter outreach and transparent government communication. She will be working in the Office of the Governor.

LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers students cutting-edge research, study abroad, internship and service learning opportunities as part of its innovative experiential learning curriculum. Manship School students can earn undergraduate degrees in journalism, political communication, digital advertising, and public relations, along with four graduate degree programs: Master of Mass Communication, Ph.D. in media and public affairs, certificate of strategic communication, and dual MMC/law degree.

The College of Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) offers a diverse range of courses, minors, and degree programs that are critical to success in today’s global market. Students, faculty, and staff are visionary leaders in their respective fields, a tradition of excellence that began with the College’s inception in 1908. For more information on the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, visit www.hss.lsu.edu.

The LSU College of Science is an international leader in scientific research and instruction, elevating LSU to the highest level of excellence among major research universities in the U.S. and abroad. The college consists of five academic departments including biological sciences, chemistry, geology and geophysics, mathematics, and physics and astronomy, and the LSU Museum of Natural Science. Seven major fields of study and more than 20 concentrations are available to students interested in pursuing a science major at LSU. For more information on LSU’s College of Science, visit science.lsu.edu.